Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-09-07
BADLY BUNCOED.
. Woman Swindled out of
100000 In one Sweep.
Her Story Of Misplaced Confidence
Accidentally Meeting the Rascal
Who Robbed Her.

WIN OOuU6u 11NCs
NKw HAVEN, Conn, Sept. 8.--Au who
read this tale of the heartlessness OF the
bunco profession will have some pity on
the woman who was the victim, and who
lost In n grand sweep between 800, 600
and 800, COG. Police departments from
Montreal to San Francisco have had their
machinery In operation at one time or an
Other to capture the most accomplished
swindler In America. The New Haven
police authorities at n period nearly
nahbed him, but he escaped. The facts
In the case have been kept strictly secret,
the detectives fearing that any publicity
while the investigation was In progress
would put the criminal on his guard.
A few weeks ago q handsome, we'll
dressed woman visited the police head
quarters, accompanied by Sergt. Laugh
lin, one OF Inspector Byrnes' men. They
were closeted with Chief Bollmann and
local detectives for hours daily. She
gave her name as Margaret Defoy.
She was q refined person, and could talk
French and Spanish as fuently as the
English tongue. Her story of misplaced
confidence is n of the most remarkable
on record, according to Inspector Byrnes.
Mrs. Defoy Is a widow, and resides in
Montreal. A year ago her husband, q
wealthy manufacturer, died, leaving a
fortune OF $3.50, 600 to his wife. Her hus-
band had bsen dead but a short time
when she decided to have a portrait
painted from a photo. She engaged for
this service of the leading oil paint
ers in Montreal, and he promised most
satisfactory results.
While the artist was mt work on the
picture she frequently visited his studio
to inspect his labors. In the same build
Ing with the artist there bad come q few
weeks previous a handsome young man,
who opened an Office for the sale of west
ern land investments. He became quite
intimate with the artist. The latter told
him of the wealthy widow who had en-
ployed him to paint her. husbands pic
tnre. He became deeply interested in
her, He made the artist premise him
that when the picture war done and sent
to her house that he would take him
there on pretense of seeing the picture
and introduce him to Mrs. Defoy. His
scheme worked well. He told the artist
he wanted a picture of himself, and .se
latter acceded to his. desires. TIL artist
knew nothing of the land agent, but he
found MIN suck an engaging and affable
person that he became his confidential
friend.
The promise was Kept, and the artist
introduced the agent to the widow. He
gained all the knowledge he desired OF
the Widows means at this visit. He so
fayorably impressed Mrs. Defoy that she
invited him to call again. His visits
after that were quite numerous. He
tried to convince Mrs. Defoy, when his
frequent calls ripened into friendship,
that some OF the wealth which she pos.
sessed could be profitably invested in
some of the western territory over which
he claimed to have jurisdiction. Such
suggestions were sandwiched in very
pleasantly. But Mrs. Defoy argued
firmly against sinking her money in the
| west.
The schemer then set about on a differ
ant tack, He determined to marry the
wealthy widow. This was no easy task,
for the latter held a high social position
In Montreal, and her marrying a land
agent would create talk. The Widows
heart withstood a vigorous siege, hut 1t
finally succombed and the pair were
| welded 1t did create q sensation, and
h w SAAt1ah0LAt rs shCs Wd6 uOW hlOW IL,
! acceded to her husbands wishes and de-
termined To move to her husbands
western home, where he assured her his
mother and sisters In Chicago would
welcome her With open. arms. He dig
played a package OF bills that he stated
amounted to 5000. 1t now transpires
1t was spurious stuff. All OF Mrs De-
foy's Montreal property was converted
into money and diamonds. to he amount
Of sac, 600. About 500, 600 more was put
in different kinds OF bonds and securi-
ties.
They reached New York one day last
week, and put up at the hotel Metropoli-
tan on Broadway. He persuaded his
wife to go to breakfast on the second day
Of their arrival without his company.
While she was absent he broke open her
trunk, which contained the none dia-
monds and securities, and skipped with
all She has not laid eyes upon him
since She told Inspector Byrnes Of he.
loss. The New York detective kept the
matter a secret,
Inspector Byrnes' men traced Minahon
to this city, but he elpded them. He is
wanted for thirty heavy cases all over the
country, principally in the west. He Is
known as Phil Brayton, alias Doc Nina
hon, ais Charles Pryton, alias William
S.. Reynolds. He is IS years OF age,
height 8 feet SIP inches, stout build.
weighs 100 pounds, hair brown, mustachs
brown, eyes dark, face full, from New
York City, and is one of Con Lynch's
gang. He is wanted in New York, Chi.
cage, Joliet, Ill, st. Louis, Kansas City,
San Francisco and other cities.
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